Leadership Matters March 2015

IASA News in Brief

Shannon Miller Bellini joins IASA/IAASE staff

IASA in partnership with the Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education (IAASE) has added Shannon Miller Bellini to a new position as Policy Analyst/ Governmental Relations Specialist. “Shannon will work on special education issues for IAASE and also work with Diane Hendren, our Director of Governmental Relations, on education issues of importance to both organizations,” said IASA Executive Director Dr. Brent Clark. “We think it will be a great partnership between IASA and IAASE and a way to strengthen our presence in the state capitol.”

Prior to joining IASA/IAASE, Miller Bellini served as legislative liaison for three state agencies, including the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the Capital Development Board, and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. She is a graduate of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. She resides in Springfield with her husband, Nick, and 9-year-old son Seiger.

2015-2016 Readers’ Choice Grant available to Illinois schools

The Illinois School Library Media Association/Library Book Selection Service Endowment Fund announces its 2015-2016 Readers’ Choice Grant. All Illinois libraries registered in any of the Illinois Readers’ Choice programs—the Monarch Award, the Bluestem Award, the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award, and the Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award—are eligible to apply for this competitive grant. Grant recipients will be awarded one set of the 2015-2016 reading campaign books for the award program indicated on their application. The titles in each book award set are determined by the individual committees in charge of the reading award programs. One major change has been made to the grant for 2015-2016. Libraries may apply for the same grant two years in a row. For example, if your library received a Monarch Grant for 2014-2015, you are eligible to apply for another Monarch Grant this year. In addition, some libraries may be awarded multiple sets based on need and programming. Information about the grant is available at the ISLMA/LBSS Endowment Fund website ( www.lbssfund.org ). The online application form will be available at the website beginning March 15, 2015. All grant applications must be submitted by midnight April 30, 2015. Applicants must also be registered for the appropriate 2015- 2016 Readers’ Choice program by April 30, 2015 (a separate process). Questions may be sent to ISLMAexsec@gmail.com or phoned to 309-341-1099.

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